Author: Rhys Gregory

Transport for Wales has successfully agreed a pay deal for workers with trade union partners. Through progressive negotiations with a clear focus on developing a social partnership, the overall deal includes a base line pay increase of around 4.5% with different parts of the organisation subject to different pay models. As a not-for-profit organisation, wholly owned by the Welsh Government, TfW is fully aligned with the Well-being of Future Generations Act (2015) and understands its responsibility to deliver for all in Wales, especially during the cost of living crisis. The Deputy Minister for Climate Change with responsibility for Transport, Lee…

The Henry Robertson Dining Room at Palé Hall in north Wales has been crowned Wales’ best hotel restaurant 2022 at the World Culinary Awards, held in Dubai on Tuesday 13th December. The annual awards celebrate and reward excellence in the culinary industry and votes are cast by a mix of industry professionals and the public. This year’s World Culinary Awards saw a global gathering of pioneers, influencers and leading figureheads from across the world attending the prize-giving evening at Onze Restaurant, Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. The Henry Robertson Dining Room holds 3 AA Rosettes and a Green Michelin Star, which…

Two local delivery drivers have been praised for saving a customer’s life after administrating CPR at his home in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Luke Reeves and Phil Blanchard were delivering a new cooker to Mrs June Kitchen, who lives in Treorchy, and they were performing safety tests when she went to check on her husband upstairs. After finding him unresponsive, Mrs Kitchen called 999 and alerted Luke and Phil, who were contracted to online electricals retailer AO.com that day. Under the instruction of the emergency operators, they immediately began performing CPR on Mr Kitchen and managed to revive him with their…

This year, CITB has paid out over £5m more in grants and supported nearly 700 more employers compared to the same period in 2021. As we draw closer to the end of 2022, CITB data reveals that almost 12,500 businesses have been supported in the form of grants, with £54.6m paid out to date (Apr – Nov 2022), and more than half paid to small or micro businesses. The CITB Grants Scheme provides grants for employers in the construction industry that deliver day-to-day training for their workforce. There are several areas whereby businesses can apply for grant, including apprenticeships, short…

Welsh homelessness charity Llamau is ensuring that the young people, women and children it supports will all receive gifts this holiday season. In some cases, this may be the only Christmas gift they receive. Over 10,000 young people, women and children were supported by Llamau in 2021-22, and the festive season can be a reminder of everything they have lost or are missing out on. Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, Llamau ensures that the people it supports enjoy a holiday season including Christmas gifts. Llamau’s vital support to young people and women who are facing homelessness helps them…

A new recruitment initiative aimed at encouraging future dental trainees to take up opportunities across rural Wales has been launched by Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW). Most new dental graduates choose to complete their Dental Foundation Training (DFT) year in a general dental practice. However, many dental graduates prefer to complete their DFT year in more urban areas, leaving some practices in rural parts of Wales under resourced with empty training positions. In 2021/22, 6% of vacancies were left unfilled. This meant that support packages had to be rapidly put in place for these practices, and unfortunately access to…

Two Swansea-based organisations have joined forces to save a classic set of 12 modernist church windows and relocate them to a church in Mold, Flintshire The windows were created in 1968 by Jonah Jones, who was a leading figure on the Welsh arts scene in the second half of the 20th century. Best known for his sculpture and watercolours, Jones was also part of a group of pioneering artists in Europe in the 1960s using the new technique of dalle de verre – slab glass supported in a concrete or resin matrix – who learned as they worked, creating daringly innovative work…

Over 40 young entrepreneurs from across Wales have come together to spend a weekend at an intensive three-day residential bootcamp to equip them with the entrepreneurial expertise needed to turn their budding business ideas into thriving realities. This year’s Big Ideas Wales residential ‘Bootcamp to Business’ event was hosted at Kilvrough Manor in Gower, the first face-to-face bootcamp post-pandemic, following two years of virtual events. Aimed at business-minded people aged 18-25, Bootcamp to business aims to strengthen the support system offered to young people seeking self-employment by developing young entrepreneurs’ budding business ideas through a series of workshops over a…

More people than ever will have access to their health records with a huge expansion of a digital service that Swansea Bay pioneered in Wales. The Swansea Bay Patient Portal (SBPP) is a secure online record that allows people to view their blood test results and clinical documents, as well as being able to tap into a library of information and resources. They can do this via their mobile phone, tablet, or other devices. They can also update their health data and sync with wearable tech like Fitbits. Blood results and clinical documents can be viewed and shared not only…

Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet has approved a consultation on proposals to establish a Welsh-medium seedling school and childcare provision on land at Porthcawl Primary School. An options appraisal found that land on the existing Porthcawl Primary School site was the most suitable location to accommodate both a seedling school and childcare facility. To compensate for the land which will be used for the new facility, an all-weather pitch would be provided at Porthcawl Primary School. The proposed seedling school is a ‘starter class’ with 30 full-time equivalent nursery places, and 30 Reception places. It is planned that the seedling…